Activists come in several varieties

Article Excerpt

While activist investors continue to target underperforming companies like Comtech, some are going after firms like GM over their environmental record. In the case of Comtech and GM, we feel activist involvement could improve shareholder value. Still, we’re not ready to recommend either stock for your new buying right now. COMTECH TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP. $25 is a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol CMTL, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 26.1 million; Market cap: $652.5 million; Dividend yield: 1.6%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.comtechtel.com) makes a variety of electronic equipment—modems, amplifiers and frequency converters—for operators of ground stations that communicate with orbiting satellites. Its main customers are wireless communication carriers, satellite TV broadcasters and military contractors. On June 14, 2021, activist investment firm Outerbridge Capital Management, which holds about 1% of Comtech’s shares, recently sent a letter to the company’s board of directors. It feels Comtech’s failure to meet its own financial targets and the lack of a succession plan (Fred Kornberg became CEO…